Fewer people are using trains in outlying regions of Japan, and about one third of Japanese rail lines operate in the red. Because of this, regional rail companies have been shutting down money-losing lines or expanding into side businesses. This time on Japanology Plus, we look at the crisis regional railways are facing. Our guest, Hiroaki Oshima, works at a private-sector thinktank studying Japan's systems for moving goods and people. And in Plus One, hiking a famous old rail route in Gunma Prefecture.

Japanese weddings are the event of a lifetime, whether they're held at a Shinto shrine, Buddhist temple, or Christian church. But the number of weddings has dipped in recent years amid social trends toward staying single or marrying late. Even so, services that assist with getting married are proving to be popular. This time, we look at Japanese weddings. Our expert guest is Noriko Nagamine, a magazine editor who has written extensively on weddings. And in Plus One, a matchmaking bus tour!